Alice: Season 04  (1979)

Theatrical Release Information:
Alice: Season 04

Halfway through Season Four of Alice, series regular Polly Holliday, in the role of brassy waitress Flo "Kiss Mah Grits" Castleberry, accepts an offer she can't refuse from a Houston businessman and leaves Mel's Diner in Phoenix to open up her own restaurant--thereby neatly segueing into her own spinoff sitcom Flo, which made its CBS debut on March 24, 1980. Holliday's replacement on Alice is Mississippi native Belle Dupree, who makes her first appearance in the episode "For Whom the Belle Tolls", and who like series protagonist Alice Hyatt (Linda Lavin) bides her time as a waitress at Mel's until she can pursue her dream of becoming a popular singer. Ironically, Belle is portrayed by Diane Ladd, who originated the role of Flo in the series' theatrical-movie prototype, Alice Doesn't Live Here Any More (1974). The rest of the regular cast--the aforementioned Linda Lavin, Vic Tayback as Mel, Beth Howland as Vera, Philip McKeon as Alice's son Tommy--remains intact. Also new to the show are several more steady customer at Mel's Diner: Ted Gehring as Charlie, Michael Alldredge as Ralph, and Raleigh Bond as Raleigh. The first of the season's many guest stars is Telly Savalas, who appears as "himself" in the opening episode, driving Vera (Beth Howland) crazy later on when she can't convince anyone that she has waited on "Kojak." Also appearing as themselves are Dinah Shore, who invites Mel to prepare his famous chili on her TV talk show, and Art Carney, who not only tries to market Mel's recipe as "Chili Con Carney", but also reveals himself to be Vera's sixth cousin on her father's side. And back for another visit is Martha Raye as Mel's domineering mother Carrie Sharples, who once again effectively punctures her son's ego when her cooking draws in more customers than his! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide